Fairfax County Offers Assistance With Income Tax Preparation and Filing

Fairfax County Offers Assistance
With Income Tax Preparation and Filing

With tax season fast approaching, Fairfax County taxpayers should know
that help is available at many county facilities. Qualified residents can
get free assistance with preparing and filing both their state and
federal tax returns.

Through AARP's Tax-Aide program, senior citizens can get free help in
preparing and filing their state and federal returns. From now until the
middle of April, AARP's volunteer preparers will be at several locations
across the county. Seniors seeking help can go to the Sherwood Regional
Library, the Centerville Regional Library, the Mason Governmental Center
or the Reston Community Center . Call these locations for schedule
information.

Through AARP's Tax-Aide program, senior citizens can get free help in
preparing and filing their state and federal returns. From now until the
middle of April, AARP's volunteer preparers will be at several locations
across the county. Seniors seeking help can go to the Sherwood Regional
Library, the Centerville Regional Library, the Mason Governmental Center
or the Reston Community Center . Call these locations for schedule
information.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program offers free federal and
state income tax help to low- to moderate-income ($36,000 and below)
taxpayers. Locations include the Mott Center, 12111 Braddock Road,
Fairfax, 703-278-8605, TTY 711; Pohick Library, 6450 Sydenstricker Road,
Burke, 703-644-7333, TTY 703-324-2965; Chantilly Regional Library, 4000
Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, 703-502-3883, TTY 703-324-8365; and the
Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center, 1086 Elden Street, Herndon,
703-435-6830, TTY 711. Please call these locations for hours of
operation. Hours of availability at the Pohick Library and Chantilly
Regional Library can also be found at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/taxes.htm.
To locate other VITA sites across the county, call 1-800-829-1040,
TTY 711.

Also available at the Pohick Library is the Burke Tax Assistance Program
for taxpayers with moderate income ($36,000 and above). Volunteers will
prepare state and federal tax returns for working people and retirees.
However, assistance cannot be provided to those with rental homes, those
with business income reported on federal Schedule C, or those with
numerous stock trades. For more information, contact the Pohick Library
at the number listed above.

The Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration offers forms and
general assistance in completing Virginia state income tax returns.
Residents' federal returns must be completed before D TA can render
assistance. If you have state income tax questions, call DTA at
703-222-8234, TTY 703-222-7594, or visit the DTA offices located in the
Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 223, Fairfax,
Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursdays until 6:30 p.m.

The Fairfax Area Disability Services Boards' Web page has a wealth of
information about income tax relief for people with disabilities and
their families. For example, Virginia offers a “Home Accessibility
Features for the D isabled” income tax credit and Caregivers Grants for
relatives who take care of people with disabilities. The Web page is
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/service/sdb/Tax_Considerations.htm. The
information is also available by calling 703-324-5421, TTY 703-449-1186.

Virginia residents can pick up state and federal income tax forms and
publications at D TA's offices or at county library branches. At the
library branches, forms may be downloaded onto a floppy disc at no
charge, or printed out on the library's printers at a charge of 15 cents
per page. State and federal forms are also available online at
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/internet/taxforms.htm.

The deadline to file Virginia income tax is May 1. Tax forms must be
filed with the Virginia D epartment of Taxation, P.O. Box 760 , Richmond
, VA 23218-0760 . For more information on filing requirements, or to
download tax forms, visit the Virginia D epartment of Taxation's Web site
at www.tax.virginia.gov/index.cfm.
The number to call for customer service is 804-367-8031, TTY 711, Monday
through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For information on the Internal Revenue Service or federal tax filing
requirements, visit the IRS Web site at www.irs.ustreas.gov. During tax
season, live assistance is available from IRS personnel from 7 a.m. to 10
p.m. weekdays and on Saturdays through April 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The live telephone assistance number for individuals is 1-800-829-1040.
The live telephone assistance number for businesses is 1-800-829-4933.
The live telephone assistance number for people with hearing impairments
is 1-800-829-4059 (TTY).

Seniors and persons with permanent and total disabilities who need more
information about real estate tax relief can call the Fairfax County
Department of Tax Administration at 703-222-8234, TTY 703-222-7594,
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Real estate tax relief
applications can be obtained online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta.

Providence District senior citizens are invited to attend a workshop
about how to apply for real estate tax relief. Hosted by Fairfax County
Supervisor Linda Q. Smyth, the March 18 and the April 14 workshops will
be held at Providence district office, 8739 Lee Highway, Fairfax.

Personnel from the Department of Tax Administration will be on hand from
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 18 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 14 to
help eligible seniors or persons with permanent and total disabilities
apply for real estate tax relief. To attend the workshop, please make an
appointment by calling the Providence D istrict's office at 703-560-6946,
TTY 711. Appointments will be taken starting on Feb. 14 for the March 18
event and March 22 for the April 14 event. Contact Tania Hossain at
703-560-6946, TTY 711 for more information about this workshop.

FAIRFAX COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO A POLICY OF
NONDISCRIMINATION IN ALL COUNTY PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES AND
WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS UPON REQUEST. TO REQUEST SPECIAL
ACCOMMODATIONS, CALL 703-324-3187, TTY 703-324-2935. PLEASE ALLOW FIVE
WORKING DAYS IN ADVANCE OF EVENTS IN ORDER TO MAKE THE NECESSARY
ARRANGEMENTS.